john kerry getting ready -- john kerry is the chairman still of the foreign relations committee in the senate but he's recusing himself. he won't even be there. i think he's gearing up for his own confirmation hearing but bob menendez, he's going to chair these hearings. >> that's right. and this is an odd way for her to go out. but, yes, she's leaving this week. >> let's talk a little bit about you. today's your first day on cnn. about a month ago we saw you on another network. but what have you been doing the last month gearing up for this major new challenge in your life? >> a lot of gearing up, a lot of time with my children, jack and alice. and also, i have this new book that i wrote about afghanistan. >> best seller, i must say. >> it is a bestseller. >> "the outpost ", right there. >> one of the staff sergeants in that book, it was announced that president obama is going to award him the medal of honor in february. so i've been -- >> he's a central character in the book. >> he's a big character in the book and i've been preparing for that. we're going to have a party with him. i